Burlington, Vt. – Mayor Miro Weinberger announced today that Burlington has been named as having the “Best Public Square” in the United States for 2022, according to USA Today’s “10 Best” Readers’ Choice awards.
Burlington was nominated by USA Today’s panel of judges, but the final ranking of the top 10 public squares was selected by readers after four weeks of voting.
“The Church Street Marketplace is the ‘Best Public Square’ in the country because of a great design and more than 40 years of vigilant work by the street’s merchants, outstanding directors, the Commission, and the City to make it a welcoming and safe place for the public to live, work and play,” Mayor Weinberger said. “This distinction is a reminder of how beloved and treasured Church Street is, and it comes at a great time as we gear up for a summer of markets, festivals, events, and more to help the downtown bounce back from the uncertainty and challenges of the past two years.”
Kara Alnasrawi, Director of Church Street Marketplace, said, “We are thrilled to have a national outlet recognize what a valuable and beloved gathering space the Church Street Marketplace is, especially as we prepare a full summer season of events.”
As described by USA Today, “Burlington’s Church Street Marketplace comprises the length of Church Street between Pearl and Main. It’s a designated National Register Historic District that welcomes 1.5 million visitors a year to shop, dine and mingle.”
After Burlington, the following public squares comprised the top 10 in the U.S.: (2) Centerway Square in Corning, New York; (3) Decatur Square in Decatur, Georgia; (4) Campus Martius Park in Detroit; (5) Healdsburg Plaza in Healdsburg, California; (6) Santa Fe Plaza in Santa Fe, New Mexico; (7) Rittenhouse Square in Philidelphia; (8) Jackson Square in New Orleans; (9) Fountain Square in Cincinatti; and (10) Village Green in Bar Harbor, Maine
Nominees for all categories are chosen by a panel of experts which include a combination of editors from USA TODAY, editors from 10Best.com, and other relevant expert contributors.
To see the full list of honored public squares, click here
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